INFLUENCE OF DIETHYLSTILBESTROL UPON THE ADRENAL CORTEX OF THE GUINEA PIG

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Abstract
Oral adm. of stilbestrol to guinea pigs of both sexes was made in the amt. of 1-1 1/2 mg./wk. for periods of 7-17 wks. and produced in both sexes a definite inhibition of growth as measured by wt. The gross wt. of the adrenal gland was increased roughly 50% in both sexes by this stilbestrol treatment when allowance is made for the wt. retardation of the exptl. animals. At the same time in all expts. the actual wt. of the adrenal glands was definitely greater in the exptl. than in the control animals. Planimeter measurement of the adrenal cortex and medulla showed that treatment by stilbestrol affects the cortex alone. Microscopic study showed that control [female][female] have a far greater number of vacuoles in the zona fasciculata than do the [male][male]. This vacuolation is greatly increased in both sexes by stilbestrol treatment. An exploratory study upon a limited number of [male][male] and [female][female] did not show that castration had any effect on the wt. of the adrenal glands, but final conclusions upon this point are not drawn.